Apple’s Business Essentials opens up to all US small businesses
The service, which was previously in beta, supports both company-issued and personal iOS devices
Apple has announced that its Business Essentials service is now available to small businesses across the United States.
Previously launched in beta, Apple Business Essentials addresses all the aspects of device life cycle management — from the initial setup to consistent upgrades — while also providing data backup, steadfast security, and priority support.
The complete solution begins with streamlined employee onboarding, according to Apple. Groups of apps can be delivered to employees or teams, as can settings, such as Wi-Fi passwords and VPN configurations, which can be pushed automatically using the Collections feature.
A dedicated iCloud work account allows for secure document and file storage, backup, and collaboration. Additionally, Apple’s User Enrollment feature ensures employees’ personal information is kept private and separated from work data through cryptography.
Apple Business Essentials also comes with flexible subscription plans that can be customized across an organization, with up to 2TB of secure iCloud storage, starting at $2.99 per month following a free trial period of two months. Users of Apple Business Essentials’ beta version can also sign up for the free trial.
Apple has also announced prioritized support for Business Essentials. AppleCare+ for Business Essentials, available as an add-on, includes 24/7 phone support, IT administrator and employee training, and up to two device repairs per plan each year.
“Employees simply sign in to their work account on their iPhone, iPad, or Mac using a Managed Apple ID. Once they sign in, they will have access to everything they need to be productive, including the new Apple Business Essentials app, where they can download work apps available to them,” explained Apple.
“Managed Apple IDs can be created by federating with Microsoft Azure Active Directory and, coming later this spring, with Google Workspace identity services, allowing employees to log in to their device with a single business username and password.”
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